Qatar Says in Talks with Iran to Provide Food Supplies

TEHRAN (Tasnim) – A Qatari official said Doha is in negotiations with Tehran and Ankara to secure its food and water supplies after Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirate (UAE) cut trade and diplomatic ties with the Persian Gulf Arab state.

"We are in talks with Turkey and Iran and other countries," said the official, speaking on the condition of anonymity.

He added that the supplies would be brought in through Qatar Airways cargo flights, Reuters reported on Wednesday.

The official went on to say that there were enough grain supplies in the market in Qatar to last four weeks and that the government also had large strategic food reserves in Doha.

On Tuesday, Reza Nourani, head of the National Union of Iran’s Agricultural Products, said Iran was prepared to provide Qatar with whatever food products the Arab country needs.

“Considering the outbreak of tension in Qatar’s relations with (other) Arab states, it is possible (for Iran) to satisfy all demands of Qatar for agricultural products,” he said.

On Monday, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Bahrain and the Maldives and a number of others cut off diplomatic ties with the Doha government and suspended air, sea and land transport with Qatar.

Iran has called for a "clear and explicit dialogue" among the feuding nations, saying rising tensions among its Persian Gulf neighbors threaten the interests of everyone in the region.